Her Magazine is New Zealand’s only women’s business lifestyle magazine! Her Magazine highlights the achievements of successful and rising New Zealand businesswomen. Her Magazine encourages a healthy work/life balance.
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/59614
she was a recipient of the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993. Gillian holds a BSc (Hons) in Botany from the University of Canterbury and an MBA, from the Graduate School of Management and Public Policy at the University of Sydney. Reaching the end of her five year contract as CEO for the Cawthron Institute, Gillian was offered an extension and decided to extend for only one year; finishing up in March 2012. "I have mixed feelings about moving on – Cawthron is a very special organisation. Owned by the Cawthron Institute Trust Board, it is New Zealand's oldest and largest independent research institute. It sits at the critical intersection of science, business, community and the environment. It makes an important contribution to the region and to New Zealand, and has a wonderful group of highly-skilled staff. I have been privileged to be Chief Executive for six years, and I will be sad to leave. The Institute is in good shape, and now is a good time to move on. I have other interests I want to pursue, and I would like to do some of these sooner rather than later," she said. "One project I have been asked to take on is to write a book on the organisations across the world that manage science and operations in Antarctica – a different challenge to leading a research institute." Remaining in Nelson, Gillian is looking forward to indulging in 'spare time' and will be leaving her options open for whatever may come her way. Ian Kearney, the Chair of the Cawthron Board of Directors, has nothing but praise for the lasting impact Gillian has made on Cawthron. "Gill has provided clear leadership and vision that has established a forward path for Cawthron," he said. "This is reflected in achievements like the new buildings at the Glen, growth in staff from around 150 to 200, and significant recognition for Cawthron's science both nationally and internationally." Thomas Easterfield, the Cawthron Institute's first director, must have known he was setting the bar high in 1917 when he said, "I foretell a brilliant future for this institute to be a centre of light, learning and culture, honoured throughout the civilised world and a lasting tribute to the memory of Thomas Cawthron." The Cawthron Institute officially opened in Nelson in 1921, and 91 years on Gillian says it continues to succeed in its founder's aims. The institute has become one of Nelson's larger employers and its focus has also changed. Cawthron staff initially sought a cure for bush sickness, a livestock wasting disease, and were busy eradicating pests affecting crops and generally providing research for the country's land-based industries. Today it has three main research and business streams: aquaculture production research that is mainly shellfish-related; environmental research and consulting; and an analytical laboratory that does environmental testing and tests food exports for product label claims and integrity. "A well cared for environment is important from a spiritual, as well as a health, lifestyle and economic point of view. Our way of life depends on a range of environmental services. Cawthron works at the intersection between business, the environment, community and science helping environmentally-friendly operations." BELOW: Gill explaining Cawthron research to the Prime Minister John Key BELOW: Gill & partner Don McFadzien on the Shackleton crossing of South Georgia - on a good day! Bovine Burger The world's first hamburger made with a synthetic meat protein derived from bovine stem cells will be publicly consumed this October after being prepared by a celebrity chef, according to the inventor of the artificial mince. Heston Blumenthal is the favourite to be asked to cook the €250,000 ($393,000) hamburger, which will be made from 3,000 strips of synthetic meat protein grown in fermentation vats. Dr Mark Post, of Maastricht University in the Netherlands, said the anonymous backer of his research project had not yet decided who would get to eat the world's most expensive hamburger, which will be unveiled at a ceremony in Maastricht. Source: Independent Midnight in an Antarctic field camp www.hermagazine.co.nz | 31 Cawthron Institute